Night flights over London to be allowed during Olympic Games
industry bosses consider using night flights to cope with the surge in travel
to the capital.
while the Games takes place, it emerged today.
extra people will visit Britain in July and August 2012.
controls" on its website. It also raises the possibility of using military air
bases to meet demand, which could mean new flight paths over London.
which were last used to ferry passengers in the Thirties.
noise day and night.
in particular as it’s so near Stratford. There are so many people living near
there it would be horrific.
the busiest in Europe. It would be a relentless noise nightmare. Londoners would
never get any sleep."
the Olympics. He described the airship suggestion as "fanciful", but noted that
at least they are quiet.
4.30am by early morning arrivals at Heathrow. There are long-standing legal noise
limits in place which we will not allow to be breached."
ban on night flights through the back door."
would] create misery for thousands".
sky thinking. None of this is final." The Department for Transport said no firm
decisions had been made.
during the Olympics Revealed
Authority (CAA) is drawing up secret plans to remove controls on London’s airports
during the Olympics (1). Amongst measures being considered are the “derestriction
of night flights”.
developed.
that the Olympics could provide "an opportunity for a transport legacy with potential
capacity problems."
enough that Londoners are bombarded by aircraft noise day and night during the
Olympics. It will be even worse if some of these new measures stay in place to
provide extra capacity for ever and a day."
by London Assembly members.
It follows information said to have been unearthed by the airports umbrella campaign
group Hacan about the Civil Aviation Authority "drawing up secret plans" to remove controls
on London’s airports during the Games which could include the de-restriction of
night flights.
"Londoners already put up with the noise of the busiest airport in Europe," the
London Assembly’s environment chair Murad Qureshi said last night. "But at least they have some respite overnight.
"Enduring weeks of sleepless nights is simply too much to ask of people. The Aviation authority needs to look at other ways of handling the extra volume
of air traffic coming into London for the Games."
The Aviation authority’s
upper air routes" and says the Olympics could provide "an opportunity for a transport
legacy with potential capacity problems."
Campaign chairman John Stewart said: "These revelations are shocking. It is bad enough that Londoners are
bombarded by aircraft noise day and night during the Olympics. It will be even
worse if some of these measures stay in place for ever."
The London Assembly’s environment committee opposes relaxing restrictions and
is now carrying out an
Nearest airport to East London’s Olympic site at Stratford is London City Airport
just four miles away at Silvertown, in the ‘host borough of Newham, which is already
embroiled in a long-running controversy over plans to expand the number of daily
flights.
has emerged.
by David Millward, Transport Editor
to make some of its airfields available for Olympic Traffic.
during the Olympics in July and August 2012.
park the additional planes – from business jets to private charters – which are
expected in Britain.
because of the anticipated demand from overseas.
fierce opposition from local campaigners and residents’ groups.
and the extra night flights are likely to be elsewhere.
of Aircraft Noise.
by aircraft noise day and night during the Olympics,” he said.
extra capacity for ever and a day."
every other Olympic host has done. We have to make sure that UK airspace can safely
handle the amount of extra traffic the games will bring.
are gathering information from everyone we can to see what demand will be. We
have to take into account more scheduled traffic as well as private aircraft.
In some cases we will have to shut airspace because of events.”